The EIU view

The coalition government headed by Evelyn Wever-Croes of the Movimiento Electoral di Pueblo, which took office in November 2017, is primarily concerned with fiscal consolidation efforts. This process will be complex and unpopular, but will benefit from Dutch financial and technical backing. The island's oil refinery, an economic mainstay, is currently closed and will remain so until 2020 at the earliest.

Latest coverage:

San Nicolás refinery works halted
Works will be stopped until the sanctions on PDVSA, Venezuela's state-owned oil company, are resolved. We do not expect the refinery to open before 2020.

Reforming payments system
Banking-sector reforms will advance slowly and detailed proposals could face resistance, but pressure and aid from Dutch authorities will keep them in motion.

New government sworn in
The new three-party coalition government has pledged reforms. When more detailed policy proposals emerge, we will revise our forecasts.